It doesn’t seem possible that the 2007-2008 school year has come to a close. I want to thank our teachers and staff for all of their hard work. I want to thank students and parents who cooperated with us to make this a successful school year. For now, have a great summer, because before you know it we will be back in school for the 2008-2009 school year. Best wishes and best of luck for those who are retiring after many years of service to the children of Lauderdale County. Retirees are Mrs. Jo Baker (28 years), Mrs. Susan Conner (32 years), Mr. Bum Bardy Driver (37 years), Mrs. Barbara Hendren (40 years), Mrs. Linda Maxwell (30 years), Mrs. Deanna Pavletic (38 years), Mrs. Peggy Roberson (12 years), Mr. John Sammons (38 years) and Mrs. Beverly Taylor (38 years). Thanks!

Phillip Jackson, Superintendent
Lauderdale County
Board of Education
pjackson@mail.lced.net

Superintendent of Schools Phillip Jackson is a native of Lauderdale County. He attended school in Gates and Halls, and graduated from Halls High School in 1965. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Lambuth University and a master’s of education degree from the University of Memphis. He began teaching at Ripley High School in 1969 and is completing his 37th year in the Lauderdale County Department of Education.

He has served as Federal Projects Director, assistant superintendent, and was elected superintendent in 1980. He served until 1988, then was principal at Halls Junior High School before returning to the Lauderdale County Schools central office as Director of Finance until he was appointed to serve as superintendent again in 2002.

Mr. Jackson is the past present of the Tennessee Association for School Business Officials, a member of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, and a member of the American Association of School Administrators.

His wife, Jean, retired from the Lauderdale School System after 32 years of service as a teacher at Ripley High School. Their daughter, Jill Odom, is a third-grade teacher in Murfreesboro where she resides with her family. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have two grandchildren, Chelsey and Shelby. The Jacksons are also actively involved in Ripley First United Methodist Church and numerous other civic activities.

John Sammons,
Assistant Superintendent
Lauderdale County
Board of Education
jsammons@mail.lced.net

Mr. John Sammons serves as Assistant Superintendent of the Lauderdale County School System. He holds a bachelor of science degree in English and sociology from Murray State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

He began his teaching career in Georgetown, Ill., and moved to Dyer County High School in Newbern, Tenn., in 1978. There he was a teacher and assistant football coach. Later he became assistant principal and served as head football and baseball coach for five years before leaving in 1987 to enter the Lauderdale County School System as principal at Halls High School.

He served as a member of the TSSAA Board of Control for athletics during the 1992-93 school year until assuming the duties of Supervisor of Personnel at Lauderdale County Department of Education in 1993. He was appointed assistant superintendent in 2004.

Mr. Sammons and his wife, Sharry, a medical technologist at Dyersburg Regional Hospital, have two children and two grandchildren.